Any thoughts on Siru at country week? Squad looks strong with powerful forwards. Having played for western plains in 2012 and in the zone for 3 seasons I feel I can safely say Siru will brush aside them without much difficulty. Central North will provide a stiffer challenge but Siru should beat them. The toughest games I feel will be Newcastle hunter and central west.
Hey RF, not sure if you're aware or not but SIRU are playing in the second tier (Richardson Shield I believe) so won't come up against Newcastle/Central West etc although Central North will be tough!
Based on what I have seen of the rep program I would expect SIRU to hold their own easily in that division. They should win their first two games at least and have the ability to take it to the top of the second tier teams. SIRU are blessed to have the services of a crafty coach in Richard Turnbull who has also selected a handy coaching staff in Richard Skellern (forwards) and Seru Rogo (backs).
The SIRU Rep team is well balanced and have been preparing well. With wet weather tipped for the weekend, I would expect SIRU to be working on a style to suit the conditions which will revolve around a strong forward pack with the ability to adapt to the conditions.
5/8 and Captain Richard Manion will be crucial in controlling the game and his combination with Sam Hobbs and James Curgenven through the halves will really allow SIRU plenty of options in the backs. Manion's strong running game and Curgenven's golden boot give flexibility to play to whatever conditions confront the team on the day.
Through the forwards, the strong running game of the likes of Rambo Lagaali, Ash Lefevre and Ben Leaper will allow the forwards to set a solid platform to control the game. Liam Krautz and Tanian Naude will back up that component of the SIRU game with a good link game between forwards and backs.
The back three combination of Boxxy Tracey, James Grimmett and James Olds have some genuine pace and are exciting footballers in their own right. I reckon these guys counter attacking ability will hurt some teams badly as these guys have the ability to slice defences to ribbons when they want to.
In recent years, SIRU has had a very good 1st XV and this is supported well and truly by a very strong bench which gives the coaching staff the luxury of substituting players without losing any spark in their game plan. The likes of Daniel Dowson, Chris Latu, Tom Boyle and Tino Manualevo will be deadest itching to get on the park!
On a side note, I would recommend that the senior playing group think about how they approach the game as the standards that they are used to week in week out in the local competition may differ from what they are used to, particularly from those members in the Central West.
Congratulations to all players and coaching staff this weekend and all the best, I look forward to hearing some positive results come back from the tournament, it's a real opportunity to show to the old leather patch brigade that SIRU is not the poor country cousin. Give 'em hell boys.
